Are Thermal Carafes Better than Glass Carafes?
When it comes to choosing a coffee carafe, there are several criteria to keep in mind, such as how much coffee it will need to hold and whether you need color-coded options to distinguish between caffeinated and decaf coffee. You'll also need to choose between using a thermal carafe or a glass decanter. Each type of coffee server has benefits and drawbacks, but before we go into detail on their features, we'll cover their general configurations in the next section.
Thermal Carafes vs. Glass Decanters
What is a glass decanter?
Glass decanters sit on hot plates that keep beverages warm and hold about as much as 60 ounces of coffee. To enable color-coding applications, glass decanters are available with lids in black, clear, orange, and silver. Some have a stainless steel base that enhances durability and heat retention, and their open tops facilitate a direct pour from the machine to the vessel.
What is a thermal carafe?
Thermal carafes are double-walled containers that can hold 70 ounces of coffee and are available in a range of colors, from copper and gold to red and silver. Because the lid can be sealed after brewing is complete, these units hold desired temperatures without adverse effects on flavor for much longer periods than glass decanters. Usually, thermal carafes consist of a stainless steel exterior and interior, but many units are available with plastic- or glass-lined interiors. Each brings something different to the proverbial coffee-brewing table.
- The double-walled stainless steel unit is the most durable over service lifetimes and keeps beverages warm or cold for several hours at a time. However, it comes at a higher price point.
- Plastic retains warmth for shorter periods than stainless steel and glass, but it's more durable than glass and more economical than stainless steel.
- Interior lining made of glass maintains consistent temperatures as long as stainless steel liners but isn't as durable. The price point for glass-lined thermal carafes is in the same range as units with plastic lining.
So which is better: thermal or glass carafes?
As you might expect, it depends on the application. Thermal carafes don't rely on hot plates to keep coffee warm. Their sealed lids maintain consistent temperatures, preventing a burnt taste and delaying oxidization, while their shatter-resistant construction is ideal for busy commercial kitchens. Thermal carafes made of metal are utilitarian in appearance and often used in back-of-house applications, but plastic carafes can provide hospitality businesses and diners with a more attractive alternative to classic glass decanters. However, these units are heavier than their glass alternatives, and their contents aren't visible, making it harder for operators to check product levels at a glance.
Because they rest on warmers, glass decanters keep coffee hot and ready for serving. However, coffee held in them continues cooking and eventually becomes undrinkable. A traditional coffee vessel, glass carafes are more economical than thermal units and operators easily can see how much coffee is left in the carafe. These units also provide a full view of the dripping process, which adds to the ambience in dining facilities. With their open-top design, glass decanters release pleasant coffee aromas and are simpler to clean than thermal carafes, since many decanters are safe in commercial dishwashers. Additionally, glass isn't a reactive material, so it doesn't retain unwanted flavors between brews.
If you'll be serving coffee over an extended period or pouring coffee at a beverage station and then transporting drinks to tables, you should invest in a thermal carafe. They can be used for cold and hot beverages and are available in several options to suit different preferences in length of temperature retention, durability, and cost. Glass decanters are best for foodservice operations where coffee is served quickly after brewing or where coffee is poured at the table.
